Why You’ll Love this Creamy Salsa Chicken
Sometimes the best recipes are the ones that practically cook themselves, and this creamy salsa chicken is exactly that kind of weeknight hero. I’m talking about tender chicken swimming in tangy salsa and rich sour cream – comfort food that doesn’t require a culinary degree.
It’s foolproof, budget-friendly, and makes everyone at your dinner table ridiculously happy.
What Ingredients are in Creamy Salsa Chicken?
Getting this creamy salsa chicken on your table couldn’t be simpler – you probably have most of these ingredients hanging out in your pantry right now. I love recipes that don’t send me scrambling through specialty grocery stores, hunting down mysterious ingredients that cost more than my monthly coffee budget.
- 10 chicken breast tenders
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 (15 1/2 ounce) jar chunky salsa
- 1 (1 1/4 ounce) package low salt taco seasoning
- 8 ounces sour cream
The beauty of this ingredient list is how flexible it can be. Don’t have chicken tenders? Regular chicken breasts work just fine – just slice them into strips or pound them thin. As for the salsa, grab whatever heat level makes you happy, whether that’s mild for the kids or something with a little kick if you’re feeling adventurous. The low-salt taco seasoning is clutch here because regular taco seasoning can make things way too salty, especially when you’re layering flavors. And honestly, don’t stress about the exact jar size – salsa measurements are more like guidelines than rules in my kitchen.
How to Make this Creamy Salsa Chicken
This recipe starts with the kind of prep work that makes me feel like I actually know what I’m doing in the kitchen – coating those 10 chicken breast tenders with about a third of the 1 1/4 ounce package of low salt taco seasoning. Just toss them around until they’re nicely coated, then heat up 2 tablespoons of olive oil in your skillet and brown those tenders thoroughly. I’m talking golden and gorgeous on all sides, not just a sad pale sear that looks like it gave up halfway through.
Once they’re beautifully browned, transfer them to a baking dish that you’ve sprayed with non-stick spray, because nobody wants to scrape stuck chicken off the bottom of a pan later.
Now comes the magic part that transforms this from plain chicken into something that might actually impress people. Pour that entire 15 1/2 ounce jar of chunky salsa right into the same skillet where you cooked the chicken – don’t you dare wash it first, because all those browned bits are flavor gold. Stir in the remaining taco seasoning and let it warm up for a minute, then pour this beautiful salsa mixture over your waiting chicken. Cover the whole thing and slide it into a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes.
When the timer goes off, resist the urge to dive right in – let it sit for 5 minutes, then stir in that full 8 ounces of sour cream. You can break the chicken into bite-sized pieces or shred it if you’re feeling fancy, then serve it over rice with whatever toppings make your heart happy. For an even easier approach, you could make this entire dish in a premium slow cooker where all the ingredients can meld together perfectly over several hours.
Creamy Salsa Chicken Substitutions and Variations
Why stick to the exact recipe when you can make this creamy salsa chicken work with whatever’s hiding in your pantry right now? I swap chicken thighs for extra juiciness, Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for tang, or throw in black beans for heartiness.
Different salsa varieties? Game changer. Mild, medium, hot—your call.
What to Serve with Creamy Salsa Chicken
Now that you’ve got your perfectly creamy, flavor-packed chicken ready to go, let’s talk about what’s going to make this meal absolutely sing on your dinner table. I’m telling you, rice is your best friend here.
Spanish rice, plain white rice, even cilantro lime rice if you’re feeling fancy. The creamy sauce practically begs for something to soak into.
Final Thoughts
Look, I’ve given you what might just be the easiest weeknight dinner that’ll have your family thinking you spent hours in the kitchen when really you just threw some ingredients together and called it a day.
This creamy salsa chicken hits all the right notes without breaking your back or your budget.
